Hendon Publishing - Article Archive Details

Tactical Command Liberator Tactical Headsets

Written by Stephenie Slahor

It is one thing to design and market tactical command communications gear, but it is quite another to have that gear designed and marketed by someone who has spent part of his career as a SWAT officer and who realizes, firsthand, what officers really need.

Don Medine is the founder of Tactical Command Industries in Gilmanton, N.H. “As a SWAT officer, I found there was a void between the products being provided and what tactical officers really required for safe and successful missions,” Medine said. “I decided to put my real-life tactical experience and training to use by starting Tactical Command Industries Inc.” He quickly found that customers appreciated an analysis of their likes and dislikes, mission profiles, mission requirements and budgets so that the most suitable headset solutions could be chosen.

“It is not uncommon for us to develop a custom headset integration kit for a customer based upon information received during our initial briefing,” Medine said. “Many companies think every customer is the same, but our experiences have shown us that every customer is different as a result of their experiences with equipment, tenure, missions and preferences. This is why we use a very focused and solution-centric approach.”

The result has been a business with a law enforcement, security, military and special forces customer base, and sales in more than 60 countries, based on “friendly force” standards in conducting business with customers in specific nations.

Mission compromises and failures can occur because of communication problems. Training, experience and quality equipment “can improve the chances of a favorable outcome,” Medine said, adding, “We make sure customers get the best equipment to help ensure their success, and the safety of all.”

Among Tactical Command Industries’ product line is its Liberator LSS system, which was first developed in 2001 as an integrated hearing protection and communication headset. Since then, product development created Liberator II and Liberator III digital hearing protection headsets.

The Liberator II tactical headset has been designed to exceed durability standards. It features digital hearing protection, long battery life and low-profile ear cups. Digital sound processing is used for optimal reproduction of environmental sounds and radio frequency shielding. Comfortable wear is also designed into the headset, even though the user may be wearing MICH, ACH, PASGT or other ballistic helmets.

The headset design helps assure that the user has situational awareness even during communications. Peripheral hearing and audio clues from the environment are heard because the Liberator II compresses and reduces hazardous sound levels to safe levels in the headset, without muting or compromising the ambient sounds. With up to 29 dBa of attenuation, the headset protects the user from harmful static-state and impulse sounds.

The Liberator II is suited for most tactical military, defense, security and law enforcement teams because the headset can be interfaced with practically any portable radio model, transceiver, manpack or vehicle intercommunications system.

Stephenie Slahor, Ph.D., J.D., writes in the fields of law enforcement and security. She can be reached at drss12@msn.com.